FCPS superintendent offers more details about what virtual education will be like this fall

Annandale High School, like all FCPS schools will remain empty this fall.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand sent a letter to parents Aug. 4 offering more details about the virtual return to school.

In July, FCPS scrapped a hybrid plan giving parents a choice of in-school learning two days a week or an all-online education. FCPS later announced all learning would be online, due to continuing concerns about the COVID-19  pandemic. The start of school was delayed to Sept. 8.

If health conditions improve, FCPS would first bring back students for intervention supports on a limited basis Brabrand states. Next, FCPS would bring back elementary school students, select PreK-12 special education students, and English language learners.

Here are the plans for the start of school: 

Bell schedule – School schedules will be similar to what they were before the virus. 

The virtual school day will be 8:10 a.m.-2:55 p.m. for high schools and 7:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. for middle schools.

The bell schedule for elementary schools varies. Individual schools will announce their start and end times this week. 

Technology access – FCPS will provide all students laptops online learning. If a student does not already have an FCPS laptop, schools will send information on the laptop distribution process. Parents and caregivers will be able to pick up computers outdoors with minimal contact.

FCPS is also increasing technical support to families and students. This includes a new help desk for parents, a portal to allow students to request technology help, and methods for helping students manage their Blackboard Collaborate/Google Meet class links in their Google calendar

 

Special education – Instruction will be more robust for special education students than it was in the spring. During August, case managers will work with parents and IEP teams to amend student IEPs, if necessary, to reflect services each student will receive in the all-virtual setting. 

FCPS plans to enhance virtual instruction for special ed students by purchasing additional materials for use in the home for preschoolers, students on the adapted curriculum, students receiving related services, and students with hearing and vision impairments. 

Click here for more information about the plans for special education. 

Food availability – FCPS will continue to provide grab-and-go meals through the remainder of the summer and once the school year begins. More details will be announced later. Since schools were closed, Food and Nutrition Services has provided more than 2 million grab-and-go meals to families. 

SAT/ACT tests – FCPS will proceed with the scheduled Aug. 29 SAT testing at several high schools. There are also plans to work with the College Board to offer seniors an opportunity to take the SAT at their school on Sept. 23 through the SAT School Day testing program. More information will be provided in mid-August. 

Free online test preparation is available from the Khan Academy Official SAT Practice and the ACT Academy. School counselors and career center specialists will be available in mid-August to discuss postsecondary planning with students and their families.

Athletics – The Virginia High School League is delaying all sports and activities until Dec. 14, then will offer condensed interscholastic sport seasons. 

Online instruction – FCPS will offer online learning with a consistent instructional schedule and more live, face-to-face online (synchronous) student learning.

Students will have four days of synchronous instruction per week, while Mondays will be used for independent (asynchronous) learning. Some students will receive additional teacher assistance or intervention as needed on Mondays. 

Elementary schools have offer small-group instruction, intervention supports, and independent learning activities. Significant investment in new digital resources will provide a more personalized approach to learning in mathematics and language arts.

Middle and high school students will follow an A/B block schedule. Each class will be 80 minutes, and there will be 15-minute screen time breaks between classes. Student attendance is required. All students will receive assignments that will be graded.

Teacher training – The two-week delay in the start of the school year will allow teachers and other school-based staff to engage in professional development to prepare them for teaching and learning in a virtual environment and to reach out to families to ensure students are prepared for online learning.

Teachers will be trained on how to support their students’ social and emotional well-being to address anxiety students may be feeling at this difficult time. 

“All the decisions made due to the COVID-19 pandemic are difficult ones, with no obvious answers to address the many needs of our students, staff, and families,” Brabrand says. All the other major school systems in the region are also starting the school year with an all-virtual format. 

In mid-August, Brabrand plans to announce the metrics that will be used to determine when schools can reopen.